Late surge saves City blushes

THIRTY MINUTES:Down 0-2 with half an hour left, the favorites slotted four goals, including a hat-trick, to keep their hopes alive for four trophies this year

AP, MANCHESTER, England

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, center, is challenged by Watford defenders Gabriele Angella, left, and Marco Faraoni during their game at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on Saturday.

Photo: AFP

Sergio Aguero’s late hat-trick rescued Manchester City from FA Cup humiliation at the hands of second-tier Watford, ushering the Premier League title favorites into the fifth round along with Liverpool and Everton on Saturday.

The biggest shock of this season’s competition was on when Watford took a 2-0 lead after 30 minutes at Etihad Stadium, only for a remarkable Aguero-led comeback by City in the final half-hour.

The Argentina striker produced clinical finishes in the 60th and 79th minutes to level the score before Aleksandar Kolarov put City in front in the 87th. Aguero completed his hat-trick in injury time, keeping Manuel Pellegrini’s side in contention for silverware on four fronts this season.

“I wanted to change all of my players at halftime, all 11 of them,” Pellegrini said. “The whole team was a disaster in the first half.”

There were no such worries for Liverpool, who beat second-tier Bournemouth 2-0 away courtesy of goals by Victor Moses and Daniel Sturridge, and Everton, who eased past third-tier Stevenage 4-0 largely thanks to Steven Naismith’s first-half brace.

Everton’s victory was marred by a suspected broken left leg suffered by Costa Rica international Bryan Oviedo, which could rule him out of the World Cup.

Premier League teams Southampton, Cardiff, Swansea, Hull and Sunderland — 1-0 winners over non-league side Kidderminster — also advanced, but Crystal Palace, who are fighting relegation from the top flight, were eliminated after losing 1-2 at defending champion Wigan.

With Watford’s starting lineup costing ￡500,000 (US$825,000) and City’s bench alone worth ￡84 million, few gave the visitors a chance at the Etihad even though City fielded a weakened starting team ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League match at Tottenham.

Yet Watford, a 33-1 shot with British bookmakers to beat City, stunned home fans by going into a 21st-minute lead through Fernando Forestieri before Troy Deeney made it 2-0 after 30 minutes.

By the time Aguero scored his first goal, City had four players up front and had resorted to an all-out attack mode. The striker then produced another superb finish to equalize with 11 minutes left and Watford’s hopes of a replay were dashed when their goalkeeper, Jonathan Bond, let Kolarov’s shot dribble from his grasp into the net.

Aguero capped the fightback by heading in Jesus Navas’ cross for his 25th goal of the season, keeping up City’s average of four goals per home game this campaign.

“People spoke about us losing 10-0 or 11-0 — nobody gave us a chance,” Deeney said. “This is one of the biggest teams in the world, but we went out there with no fear.”

In 19 matches at the Etihad, only European champion Bayern Munich has left with a victory. City has won the other 18.

Arsenal began the fourth round with a comfortable 4-0 win over Coventry on Friday and Liverpool fielded a full-strength side to also enjoy an easy victory, with Moses opening the scoring in the 26th minute.

Luis Suarez set up that goal and also provided the assist for Sturridge, who ran onto the Uruguay striker’s pass and slotted into the corner in the 60th. Sturridge has now scored in three-straight matches since returning from nearly two months out through injury.

“The tradition in the FA Cup for Liverpool is huge and we want to pay respect to the competition because we want to get to the final and win it if we can,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said.